The BOSS DR-220E is a little programmable digital rhythm machine. This is the “E” version – it means E-DRUM sounds (very Simmons-like). The DR-220 has a twin brother with acoustic drums sounds – the DR-220A.

Although the DR-220 is from 1986, it lacks MIDI – but it has SYNC IN and OUT. It has nice Simmons-like eighties drums! It is similar to the Korg DDM-110/DDM-220, but it has better sounds in my opinion.

de la Mancha has set free loophole, a midi-triggered loop sampler, and Impakter, a vintage drum module plugin containing 320 samples of original drum sounds generated on analogue synths and drum machines.

Thank you to the 44 wonderful people who have donated so far! After this you all responded positively to help me to raise over £500 (against a target of £1000) for Cancer Research UK, a deserving charity that funds scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner.

As we made it to the half way mark, I am releasing 2 of the 4 plugins for free, for everyone.

The Sonic Six is an interesting, although obscure synthesizer from the Moog history books. Its predecessor, the Sonic V, was designed by an ex-Moog employee for the muSonics brand. When muSonics eventually bought out R.A. Moog, forming Moog muSonics, the Sonic V’s basic design was moved into a portable brief-case style synthesizer, and with only a few tweaks, the Sonic Six was born.

The fact that the Sonic Six originated from another company’s design not only accounts for why the Sonic Six looks different than any other Moog, but also for some pretty unique differences under the hood as well. To start, it is duo-phonic, utilizing two analog oscillators with three basic waveforms each plus tuning, modulation and scaling controls. There are two independent LFO generators with advanced control options not seen on other Moog synths (for instance, an X/Y knob is used to mix and balance the LFO outputs). Also on-board is a Ring Modulator (that can modulate either Osc. B or external audio) and pink/white noise generators.

Moog synthesizers are known for their filters, and the Sonic Six strays from the usual Moog in this area as well. While it is known that ARP stole a filter design from Moog for use in some of their 2600 and Odyssey models, leading to lawsuits between Moog and ARP, according to Mark Vail in “Vintage Synthesizers,” the Sonic Six actually used some circuitry in its filters which were stolen from an ARP design, although ARP never sued Moog over it. However, later models of the Sonic Six were eventually fitted with a more traditional Moog designed filter. In either case, the filter is a low-pass 24dB/oct which offers the usual controls and is capable of self-oscillation. The VCA, however, has a rather limited set of controls – attack and decay plus a sustain on/off switch.

Not commonly seen, they are actually rather durable devices and used ones generally (if proper care was taken of them) are found in good working order. It was originally designed for educational and home use so it is light and portable and even has a built-in amplifier and speaker. It’s a genuine Moog synth that is equally as obscure as useful these days. And its rather simple looking front-panel layout hides the uniquely flexible, powerful and great sounding little beast it truly is!

When Hermann von Helmholtz designed what was essentially the world’s first electric keyboard, he didn’t do out of a need to lay down crunchy riffs on the shores of the Rhine. What he needed was a way to generate tones and mix timbres in a bid to better understand the musicality and substance of vowel sounds. He ultimately came up with a series of electrically activated tuning forks hooked up to brass resonators, and now you can try to own one of your every own… assuming you’ve got between at least $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket. This particular unit — hewn of wood and keys whittled from African ivory — wasn’t made by Helmholtz himself, but it is one of the few remaining examples of such 19th century tech still in existence. To hear auction brokerBonhams tell the tale, there’s just one other floating around the United States (another seems to be in safe hands at the University of Toronto). Intrigued? The Helmholtz synthesizer will go up for auction in New York come late October along with a slew of other scientific curios from back in the day.

Loopmasters has released Retro Synths for Logic X, a new collection of Logic X synth presets and mix ready channel strips by Colin C.

Essential Retro Synth is a brand new collection of 100 synth presets and 50 bonus channel strips tailor made by Logic expert Colin C which showcases a broad range of rich, lively tones perfect for all electronic producers working within the Logic X environment wanting to get the most from the Retro Synth plugin that come bundled with Logic X.

“Retro Synth” is a powerful new software plugin included with the Logic X package that aims to emulate the synthesis types and sounds of legendary synthesizers from Yamaha, Moog and Korg. With four unique operating modes of synthesis including Analog, Sync, Wave Table and Frequency Modulation, Retro Synth is capable of a huge palette of sounds ranging from classic warm analogue tones to loud digital crunchiness and everything inbetween.

Also included are 50 bonus Channel Strip settings, complete signal processing designed by Colin C. who’s been mixing and engineering music with Logic Pro for nearly a decade, and boasts credits to not only numerous EDM labels, but also TV and Film including NBC, FOX, Showtime and Lionsgate Films.